Disney World or Universal Orlando? Which is right for your family?
One of the most common questions families ask me is, “How old should my children be before we go to Universal?”
For years, the simple answer was that Walt Disney World was generally better for younger children, while Universal Orlando was better for older children and teenagers.
That answer is no longer quite so simple.
With the opening of Universal Epic Universe, families now have SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe and Celestial Park to consider. Universal has become much more appealing to families with younger children, especially those who love Mario, Toothless, dragons or Harry Potter.
Age is still important, but it should not be the only factor in your decision. I also consider each child’s height, interests, tolerance for thrill rides and how the family prefers to vacation.
Two families with children of exactly the same ages may need completely different recommendations.
Toddlers and Preschoolers
For most families traveling with babies, toddlers or preschoolers, Walt Disney World is still my first recommendation.
Disney offers many attractions that families can enjoy together without a minimum height requirement. It also has character experiences, shows, gentle rides and entertainment throughout its four theme parks.
Universal does have experiences created for younger children, including DreamWorks Land, Minion Land and Seuss Landing. Epic Universe adds even more family appeal, particularly How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.
However, height can become a bigger consideration at Universal. Many of its most popular attractions have minimum height requirements, including several attractions inside Epic Universe. A young child may love Mario or How to Train Your Dragon but still be too short, or not quite ready, for some of the main rides.
For families with children under five, Disney is usually the easier and more inclusive choice when the goal is to experience most of the day together.
Ages 5 to 8
This is where the decision becomes much more dependent on the individual child.
Disney may be the better fit for children who love classic Disney characters, princesses, Toy Story, Frozen, animals or Star Wars. It may also be a better choice for children who prefer gentler rides, shows and character experiences.
Universal may be the better fit for children who love Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, How to Train Your Dragon, Minions, Dr. Seuss, Harry Potter or dinosaurs.
Epic Universe has made Universal especially appealing to this age group. A child who is not particularly interested in traditional Disney characters may be completely absorbed in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD or the Isle of Berk. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD includes Mario Kart, Yoshi and Donkey Kong experiences, while the Isle of Berk combines rides, a live show and play areas.
Height and personality still matter. A six-year-old who is tall enough and eager to ride may have many Universal options. Another child of the same age may be unable or unwilling to experience several of Universal’s major attractions.
For children in this age range, I would never make a recommendation based on age alone.
Ages 9 to 12
The tween years are often when Universal begins to gain an advantage.
Many children in this age group are ready for faster rides, more sophisticated stories and interactive experiences. Harry Potter, Jurassic World, Nintendo, Transformers and the major attractions at Epic Universe can make Universal feel especially exciting.
Universal is not automatically the winner, though.
Disney has its own major attractions that appeal strongly to tweens, including Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, TRON Lightcycle / Run, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Avatar Flight of Passage.
A tween who dislikes roller coasters or intense attractions may actually find more to enjoy at Disney. A thrill-seeking nine-year-old who loves Nintendo and Harry Potter may prefer Universal.
Universal often has the edge for adventurous tweens, while Disney remains a strong choice for children who prefer Disney stories, entertainment and a wider variety of gentler experiences.
Tron Lightcycle - Magic Kingdom - Walt Disney World
Teenagers
For teenagers who enjoy thrill rides, Universal Orlando is often the stronger choice.
Universal has major roller coasters and intense attractions throughout Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe. Epic Universe has given families with teenagers even more reason to dedicate several days to Universal.
That does not mean teenagers have outgrown Disney.
Many teens love Disney because of Star Wars, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avatar, the food and festivals at EPCOT, nighttime entertainment and the overall atmosphere. Teenagers who grew up visiting Disney may also enjoy returning to favorite attractions and experiencing the parks in a different way.
Universal is often the better choice for thrill-seeking teenagers. Disney may be better for teens who enjoy immersive storytelling, Disney, Star Wars, food and entertainment more than roller coasters.
Again, the child matters more than the number attached to their age.
Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe
What About Families With Several Ages?
This is where personalized vacation planning becomes especially valuable.
A family may have a preschooler, a ten-year-old and a teenager. Choosing a vacation based only on the oldest child can leave the youngest with very little to experience. Choosing only for the youngest may leave the older children wanting more excitement.
Both resorts have programs that allow adults to take turns experiencing certain attractions when a child cannot or does not want to ride. Disney calls its service Rider Switch, while Universal offers Child Swap.
For families with a wide age range, the right plan might include:
Spending most of the vacation at Disney with one or two Universal days
Combining Disney and Universal in one longer Orlando vacation
Staying at both a Disney resort and a Universal resort
Selecting individual parks instead of assuming the family needs to visit every park
Waiting until the youngest child reaches important height requirements
Building in separate experiences for older and younger children
The goal is not to squeeze every possible park into one vacation. The goal is to create a trip that everyone in the family can enjoy.
Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe
Epic Universe Has Changed the Universal Conversation
Before Epic Universe, many parents viewed Universal as a vacation they should save until their children were older.
That is not always necessary anymore.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk is especially welcoming to families, while SUPER NINTENDO WORLD appeals to children, teenagers and adults who grew up playing Nintendo games. Celestial Park combines major thrills with entertainment, dining and family-friendly experiences.
Epic Universe has made Universal a much stronger option for elementary-age children and multigenerational families.
It has also made planning a Universal vacation more complicated.
How to Train your Dragon - Isle of Berk
Epic Universe Is Not Beside Universal’s Original Parks
Here is an important detail many travelers do not realize.
Epic Universe is not located next door to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk.
People sometimes describe this by saying Universal ran out of room around its original parks. The more accurate explanation is that Epic Universe needed a much larger development site. Universal built it several miles from the original resort area as part of a 750-acre development that nearly doubled Universal’s available acreage in Central Florida.
In practical terms, Universal Orlando now has two separate resort areas.
Guests traveling between Epic Universe and the original Universal parks will generally use a complimentary shuttle bus or another form of transportation. The trip is often around 15 minutes, although Universal advises that travel may take approximately 10 to 20 minutes depending on the starting point, traffic and transportation method.
Universal also opened three new hotels near Epic Universe:
Universal Helios Grand Hotel
Universal Stella Nova Resort
Universal Terra Luna Resort
Helios Grand overlooks Epic Universe and has a dedicated park entrance for hotel guests with valid admission. Stella Nova is adjacent to Epic Universe and offers a walking path or complimentary shuttle. Terra Luna is also located near Epic Universe and provides complimentary shuttle transportation to Universal’s parks and CityWalk.
That may sound like a small detail, but it can make a major difference when choosing where to stay and how to organize your park days.
A family primarily interested in Epic Universe may need a different hotel recommendation than a family planning to spend most of its time at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.
You may also need to consider whether staying at one resort for the entire vacation makes sense or whether a split stay would make the trip more convenient.
This is one example of why choosing Universal is no longer as simple as selecting a hotel and buying park tickets.
Choosing Disney or Universal Is Only the Beginning
Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are joined together by Citiwalk in the front of the parks and the Hogwart’s Express at the back of the parks (you must have a park-to-park ticket to ride the Hogwart’s Express.
Deciding between Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando is an important first step, but it is only the beginning of planning a successful vacation.
After that, there are still many decisions to make:
Which resort is the best fit for your family?
How many days should you spend in each park?
Which ticket options are actually worth the cost?
Should you stay at one resort or split your stay?
How should you structure each day without exhausting everyone?
Which attractions should be prioritized based on your children’s ages, heights and interests?
How do transportation, dining and rest time fit into the schedule?
When should you visit Epic Universe?
Does your family need every park, or would a more focused itinerary be better?
These decisions can quickly become overwhelming, especially when recommendations that work well for one family may be completely wrong for another.
That is where I come in.
My complimentary Disney and Universal Studios planning help families look beyond the basic question of Disney versus Universal and create a vacation that works for the people actually taking it.
I consider your children’s ages and heights, your family’s interests, your budget, your travel style and how much you realistically want to accomplish each day.
My job is to make the planning manageable, remove the guesswork and help you avoid spending money on tickets, resorts or options that do not fit your family.
I do not simply tell you whether Disney or Universal is better.
I help determine where you should stay, which parks you should visit, how many days you need and how to organize the vacation so it feels exciting instead of exhausting.
I’m not saying it’s a deciding factor - but the Mickey bars alone are worth a trip to Disney! YUM!
So, Is Disney or Universal Better?
For many families with very young children, Walt Disney World may still be the easier choice.
Universal Orlando, especially with Epic Universe, has become a much stronger option for elementary-age children, tweens, teenagers and families who love Nintendo, Harry Potter, dragons and thrill rides.
But there is no single answer that works for every family.
Your family may be happiest at Disney. Universal may be the better fit. The right answer may also be a carefully planned combination of both.
You do not have to sort through every resort, ticket, park, attraction and planning strategy alone.
Tell me about your family, what your children love and what you want this vacation to feel like. I will help you decide where to go, where to stay and how to make the most of your time.
Choosing between Disney and Universal is only the beginning.
I help turn those choices into an unforgettable vacation that feels exciting and manageable, without all the stress of trying to figure it out on your own.
About Melissa
Melissa Ragazzi is a concierge travel advisor and the owner of Wanders by Melissa. She helps families plan Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, cruises and customized vacations with recommendations based on their interests, budget and travel style.
Ready to decide whether Disney, Universal or a combination of both is right for your family?
Book a no-obligation consultation today or email me at Melissa@wandersbymelissa.com.
